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Series 5 Page We pick up with the second part of Gal. 2:20 Where Paul
says:
" The life which I now live."
This statement Paul makes here is one filled with questions such as Why, How Too. Paul
says The life which I now live; present and ongoing. This was not a future encounter but a present and daily one. Paul recognized from the Damascus road experience that in
himself it was impossible to live this Jesus life. But by faith and through faith he was able to perform daily. You see, Christ
became priority in his life.
Living that crucified life or putting it another way " The overcoming life", is an impossibility without the
leadership of Gods Spirit. People of all walks of life live good lives. They are filled with doing good to others. But beloved, it goes a further than being a goodie to shoe, for all our goodness is worth nothing in the kingdom of God if understanding of the cross is not clear.
Paul was a good example of this. He was devote according to testimony concerning his
adherence to the Law, but this all changed on the road to Damascus that day. You see, Religion is not good enough. Some people go through life doing what they have been taught to do. But no one could tell the apostle Paul what he had experienced was not real. He was there and experienced it for himself. He was from that day on forever
changed, and the life he began living was obviously demonstrated and witnessed by those he had encounters with
daily. His listeners got an inward witness to his new birth experience. Let me say here that the first principle of living the way Paul lived is total surrender. He tells us one of his secrets in Gal.
Chapter 2:20. Paul lived in total surrender. He had found that pearl of great price which Jesus expounded upon in Mt. 13:46. His mind was renewed. His heart was renewed. He became a new creature. He could no longer do his own thing. I believe this is where many
Christians get confused in there walk with the Lord. They never really turn over everything to God. They live a two phased life and many don't ever have the insight to recognize this.
Paul knew what he received and it became his Life's Experience. Paul's encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Road demonstrates a life that
is being transformed from personal will to Gods' 'Will.
Notice what Paul says in Verse6 of Acts Chapter
9:
"What will thou have me to do?"
I believe every child of God should in like manner
ask this same question. This illustrates a readiness to listen and to become obedient to what the Lord would have us do. Paul
recognized, submitted, and carried out the command of the Lord. The problem with
Christianity today is "I'll do it my way". Beloved; our ways are not and will never be Gods' ways. Even our Lord himself spike these words in the garden "not my will but
thine." Paul began that day to do Gods' will. He gave up Religion and it's demands and began living a crucified and Spirit led life.
To many of us are willing to give our hearts to the Lord but not our wills. I wonder sometimes if
Christians really desire to experience the depths of the cross? Selah! Paul heard the voice, asked a question, and was obedient to the command. In like manner we too should give heed to
the command, "Go Ye."
In ourselves it's an impossibility; but with and through
God, all things are possible. Yes, you can live the
over comer's life (IF) you're willing to say:
"What will you have me do", and listen to the command of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your spirit man.
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